Biomedical subjects

Flavia Correa

Publications and source records attributed to Flavia Correa.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Mastoid fontanelle approach for sonographic imaging of the neonatal brain.

This pictorial review describes in detail the examination technique used to study the neonatal brain via the mastoid fontanelle and offers a panoramic view of the anatomical structures that can be identified in each US slice. The brain lesions are grouped as congenital malformations, haemorrhage, cerebellar lesions and sinus venous thrombosis. In each section, the additional information obtained through the mastoid fontanelle is provided.

Brain↗

PubMed2004

Posterior fontanelle sonography: an acoustic window into the neonatal brain.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Sonographic brain studies are classically performed through the anterior fontanelle, but visualization of posterior supratentorial and infratentorial structures is poor with this approach. Posterior fontanelle sonography is recommended for better assessment of these structures. Our purpose was 1) to determine whether sonography of the brain through the posterior fontanelle (PF) improves visualization of brain lesions when added to the routine anterior fontanelle (AF) approach and 2) to describe standardized PF coronal and sagittal sections. METHODS: In this prospective study (conducted from February 1999 to January 2001), PF sonography was added to AF sonography in 165 consecutive premature neonates with a birth weight of < 2000 g. Sonograms were recorded in digital format for re-evaluation at the end of the study. Lesions were grouped as congenital, infectious, hemorrhagic, or hypoxic-ischemic. The chi2 test for paired data and the kappa coefficient were used to compare diagnoses with AF alone and diagnoses with AF plus PF. RESULTS: PF sonography was performed in 164 of 165 patients. Results were normal in 86 and abnormal in 78. The single posterior fossa malformation detected in this series was best delineated with the PF approach. PF sonography increased the diagnostic rate of grade II hemorrhage by 32%. Cerebellar hemorrhage (two patients) and cerebellar abscesses (one patient) were diagnosed by using the PF approach. PF sonography did not contribute to the diagnosis of periventricular leukomalacia. CONCLUSION: Study of the neonatal brain with the addition of PF sonography afforded greater accuracy in detecting intraventricular hemorrhage compared with AF sonography alone, especially when the ventricle was not dilated. The PF approach better defines posterior fossa malformations.

Brain Abscess↗

PubMed2002

Potential pitfalls in cranial sonography.

BACKGROUND: We present several anatomic variants of the brain and artifacts related to scanning techniques which could be misinterpreted as lesions on neonatal cranial sonography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The findings were derived from US studies performed on 176 premature infants and 26 full-term newborns, using the anterior, posterior and mastoid fontanelles as acoustic windows. RESULTS: The pseudolesions are divided into three groups: ventricular system (asymmetric lateral ventricle size and coarctation of the lateral ventricles); choroid plexus ("split" choroid, "truncated" choroid and choroid cyst); and brain parenchyma (peritrigonal blush, thalamic pseudolesion, pseudo-absence of the inferior vermis, occipital pseudomass and calcar avis simulating intraventricular clot). We provide images of these pseudolesions and clues to their differentiation from true brain pathology. Images of several brain disorders are included for comparison. Knowledge of these potential pitfalls is essential for proper interpretation of US brain studies and will help to avoid the use of other more invasive diagnostic tests. CONCLUSIONS: Misleading images seen on US examination of the neonatal brain that could be misinterpreted as pathology are presented, with clues to their differentiation from true lesions.

Brain↗